DJ Moore and Ed Oliver are both day-to-day and have a chance to return for the Buffalo Bills next week, Ian Rapoport said Sunday on NFL GameDay.
Moore’s injury looked far worse than the diagnosis.
“He goes down, it looks serious. Josh Allen’s concerned,” Rapoport said. “Not considered to be a serious injury. It is an AC joint sprain for DJ Moore. It’s considered day-to-day. I expect him to practice next week. That is a good sign. We’ll see if he plays. But I do expect him to practice.”
Moore was hurt late in the second quarter of Thursday night’s 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions. He dove for a low pass from Allen in the end zone, landed hard on his left shoulder and grabbed near his collarbone.
He walked off on his own and went to the locker room for X-rays. The Bills listed him as questionable with a shoulder injury and a stinger, then downgraded him to out after halftime.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that doctors do not consider the injury serious, and that Moore has a chance to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3 without it being a lock.
Oliver’s night was stranger.
The defensive tackle told the team in the locker room that his hip was spasming, according to Rapoport, roughly seven minutes before Buffalo had to submit its inactives. General manager Brandon Beane called to hold the list while the staff decided.
Coach Joe Brady said Friday that Oliver was still being evaluated in the training room about three minutes before the deadline. The Bills ruled him inactive, and Mike Danna took his roster spot.
Oliver has 30 sacks and 57 tackles for loss in eight seasons in Buffalo. He missed 14 games last season with injuries. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has described him as a player the defense builds its game plan around.
Brady said the team will take its time with both evaluations. Buffalo does not return to the practice field until Sept. 23.
The timing helps. The Thursday game gives the Bills 10 days before they host the Chargers on Sept. 27.
Moore has been durable. He has not missed a game since 2020 and has started 90 straight.
He arrived this offseason in a trade with the Chicago Bears that cost Buffalo a second-round pick. In his Bills debut, he caught five passes for 200 yards and a touchdown.
Thursday, he had one touch before leaving, a rushing attempt that lost a yard.
Buffalo is 2-0. Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir handled the receiver work once Moore left.
